Bob Frascino, M.D.

Life, Love, Sex, HIV and Other Unscheduled Events

A few weeks ago the friendly folks at Body Central asked if I would be interested in blogging about HIV/AIDS developments of 2010 from my unique perspective as a positively charged HIV physician specialist. The thought of a 2010 retrospective didn't immediately appeal to me, as there really weren't any major treatment breakthroughs this year. So I blogged about common condom conundrums instead.

Many folks writing in about HIV-transmission risk often tell me their condom broke, when in reality they actually never used one. It is just less guilt inducing to report their risk as a condom failure rather than a judgment failure. When used properly, condoms very rarely fail.

To those of you who did read them and especially to those who posted comments, many thanks. I particularly wanted to acknowledge Sean Strub (founder of Poz magazine) and his incredible work with the Center for HIV Law and Policy's Positive Justice Project. Please follow the link for more information on this vital endeavor. Sean, thanks for your tireless work on behalf of us all. The positively charged community never adequately thanks its heroes. You, my friend, definitely qualify. Consequently, I'll take this opportunity on behalf of the entire virally enhanced community to extend our heartfelt appreciation.

In my last blog entry, "A Telling Tale of Trick or Treat," I mentioned a gaggle of horned-up hotties in a Jacuzzi who might very well wind up exchanging bodily fluids prior to exchanging detailed medical information, such as HIV status. I discussed some of the reasons disclosure is such a thorny issue: rejection, stigma, possible dissemination of confidential information, etc. So what could happen to those hotties if they chose not to disclose -- or to delay disclosure until mutual trust was established with a partner?

Earlier today I noticed a preponderance of pumpkins, Costco-sized bags chock-full of small boxes of Milk Duds and other dental cavity inducers, and munchkin-sized costumes fit for either a mini Lady Gaga or a Tea Party Rally for Christine "I am not a witch" O'Donnell! With my keen sense for the obvious, I realized Halloween (or a GOP takeover of Congress) was fast approaching. Both are scary propositions.

Recently I received the following post from "Apollo." It graphically demonstrates an AIDS-related panic attack as well as the anxiety that can be brought on by an HIV/AIDS diagnosis and disclosure worries.

The link brings me to a pic of the devastatingly handsome Dr. Steve smiling back at me. Immediately I hear Streisand's voice in my head wailing, "Oh my man I love him so, he'll never know ..." The link is a transcript of a recent podcast of Dr. Steve discussing the "secrets" of our successful magnetic relationship. Steve mentioned he had given the interview but I hadn't had the chance to see it yet. I don't routinely read Steve's work on TheBody.com, because I don't habla español.

Simply put, alternative medicine (taking an alternate treatment in place of combination antiretroviral treatment -- as opposed to complementary therapies taken alongside antiretrovirals, and under the supervision of an HIV physician specialist) uses therapies that are unproven, usually anecdotal, frequently deceptive and often downright dangerous. The opposite of "alternative medicine" is sometimes referred to as "traditional medicine." That is a misnomer. "Evidence-based medicine" would be a more accurate term. It's important to note that the opposite of evidence-based medicine is not "alternative medicine," but rather "unproven medicine."

Bob Frascino, M.D., was President and Founder of The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation. He had been an outspoken, popular expert in TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" forums on safe sex and fatigue/anemia since 2000. Once a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Frascino served as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Immunology, Rheumatology, and Allergy, at Stanford University Medical Center from 1983 until 2001. He was a member of the American Academy of HIV Medicine and had also been a distinguished member of the executive boards of numerous state and regional associations.

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